Most Discussed

Apple ad forced off-air for misleading claims

updated 09:05 am EDT, Wed August 27, 2008

by MacNN Staff

Apple ad forced off of TV

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has had an Apple ad blocked from British TV, says BBC News. The ad, meant to sell the iPhone, was challenged in two complaints which said that it was misleading. In promoting the iPhone's Safari web browser, Apple claimed that it could deliver "all the parts of the Internet;" the difficulty, according to the complaints, is that the software does not support Flash and Java, which are used at many sites and thereby exclude the iPhone.

The ad therefore "gave a misleading impression of the Internet capabilities of the iPhone," the ASA has ruled, and cannot be shown again without different narration.

"Because the iPhone doesn't support Flash or Java, you couldn't really see the Internet in its full glory," explains ASA spokeswoman Olivia Campbell. "They made a very general claim that you can see the Internet in its entirety, and actually that's not quite true -- so we've upheld." Apple has refused to comment on the issue.

I'm sorry, but when I go to a web site and have to sit through some flash c*** that some developer thought would look cool and impress his boss is a waste of my time. When i go to a site, i'm looking for information the fastest way it can be presented. Keep your flash and java, or at least make it an option for those easily impressed with smoke and mirrors.

As far as the ruling, the claims still are misleading. Safari on the iPhone is not even equivalent to the mac and windows versions so, while it may be the best on a mobile phone (imho), it does not provide the same experience.

I always thought Apple's commercials touting the speed were a littly iffy. They say it's "twice as fast" but never say what it is twice as fast as. Is it twice as fast as anyone else's phone? Is it twice as fast as anyone else's network?

I know, they're trying to say it's twice as fast as the previous version. Which, in itself, makes it a weird commercial, since it's basically just advertising it to existing owners (because if you didn't already have it, you really wouldn't care it was twice as fast as it was).

(And not that I pay too much attention, but I hope they actually mention they're talking about the internet access, because I don't think the phone itself is twice as fast).

Good for Britain. Fraudulent advertising is so pervasive in the U.S. that most Americans can't even recognize it, and those that do merely accept it as casually as Indians accept corruption (as part of their "culture"). The only justification for government monopoly of force is to prevent violence and fraud, something that the U.S. government does a piss-poor job of. We should hardly be criticizing Britain for doing it better.

Ok, there are thousands of web plugins out there that collectively deliver the complete internet--but in theory only. This is because some plugins work only on a mac. Some only on windows, some only on Linux, some only on IE, some only on Firefox, etc, etc, ad nasium. Flash works on many platforms and on many browsers, but flash is just a singular portion of content out there. If you, as a government, get into the business of deciding for the public which of the thousands of proprietary platforms and subplatforms comprise "the entire internet experience", well you are opening up Pandora's box.

as much as i love the device, and for somebody working in the advertising world for years now - i have to agree. Despite mobile safari being the best browser out there on hand-helds, it does have some limitations that could be interpreted the way the Brits did. I have myself changed my web design approach to cater to a lot of these mobile devices, and that alone proves that at least, until today, they cannot display sites with rich media, and therefore display the internet how it should. Eh, a little of a stretch some may think, but apple knows better.

Of course it isn't giving you the 'full internet'. In order to get that, you need to hook your iPhone directly up to the internet's tubes. And that destroys mobility.

But it is too bad they don't have these laws in the US. Think of all the crappy campaign ads we wouldn't have to see!

"Does John McCain's black baby hate America?"

"Is Barack Obama's white grandmother a secret Muslim?"

"When Joe Biden says 'Glad to be here!', does he really mean it, or is he just plagarizing George Bush again?"

"In the movie "The Manchurian Candidate", a POW is brainwashed by his captors in a plot to take over the US government. John McCain was a POW for 5 years. Do we really want to take the chance that life will imitate the movies? Vote Larouche, 08!"

Yea.. Tired of no flash support. Have a great browser but can't pick up more and more of the content. If they're worried about the processing punch required maybe they should take a lesson from Firefox and make it selective at time of page load.

Also getting tired of sites that force a MOBILE browser view on the iPhone. Like CNN. Leave my iPhone/Touch presentation alone CNN. Ahhhhhh!VG

Good thing in American we have this thing called freedom of speech, where you can say whatever you want- even lie. The government should not be in the business of deciding what is truth and what is fraud. Let Apple make the claims. People are intelligent enough to understand. They have the freedom to research what OTHER people are saying. That's how it should be.

By default I have Java and Flash blocked. It is, in my opinion, presumptuous to assume everyone wants this content. Do what many sites do, offer a choice. Apple is doing users a favor by blocking resource hogging bells and whistles. They should, however, offer users the choice. But blocking it by default is, to me, the wise way to go. =o)

By default I have Java and Flash blocked. It is, in my opinion, presumptuous to assume everyone wants this content. Do what many sites do, offer a choice. Apple is doing users a favor by blocking resource hogging bells and whistles. They should, however, offer users the choice. But blocking it by default is, to me, the wise way to go. =o)

I don't wish to burst too many bubbles, but the ASA isn't a government body: it's the UK advertising industry that funds and supports the ASA. The idea is that the industry self-regulates so that ads that make false claims don't reduce the impact of the ads that don't.

Login Here

Now AAPL Stock: 114.5 ( + 2.38 )

Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit

Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj

Share

Developer162d

Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket

The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]

Share

162d

Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera

Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94

Share

Industry162d

Apple employees testing wheelchair features

New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa

Share

Troubleshooting163d

SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards

SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If

Share

Upgrades/storage163d

Apple's third-quarter results due July 26

Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm

Share

Investor164d

Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users

Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE